New audio reveals former US President Nixon's mixed views on abortion

New York, Jun 24 (ANI): Newly released tapes on former President Richard Nixon have shown that he had mixed views about abortion.

From the tapes, released on June 23, it sounded like Nixon saw abortion as a useful option for ending mixed-race pregnancies.

"There are times when abortions are necessary - I know that," the New York Daily News quoted Nixon as telling his aide Charles Colson on January 23, 1973.

"That's the thing about a black and a white," Nixon explained in the secretly recorded conversation.

"Same kind of thing, you know what I mean. There are times," Nixon told his aide in a hideaway next door to the White House.

However it was not clear if Nixon actually favoured ending interracial pregnancies or if he was simply acknowledging the prevalent social stigma of that era about black and white couples.

While the former president aired his abortion views he was also lamenting about the Supreme Court's landmark Roe vs. Wade decision that day, which legalized abortion.

According to him, underage girls might be encouraged to quit using birth control and "go get knocked up" because of the high court ruling. (ANI)